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Intelligent systems improve coal transportation efficiency in Inner Mongolia

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      China

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      Intelligent systems improve coal transportation efficiency in Inner Mongolia

      2024-12-12 17:33 Last Updated At:18:07

      North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, one of the country's major coal production areas, has introduced intelligent systems at freight railway stations to improve coal transportation efficiency and ensure safe operation of heavy trains with a transport capacity of 10,000 tonnes.

      Over 60 percent of the coal from 73 coal mines in Ordos City are loaded onto freight trains at the Hantaichuan North Railway Station coal logistic park, where the coal is then transported to cities across the country.

      Since November, the average daily transport of coal in the logistics park has reached more than 60,000 tonnes, which was achieved with the help of an intelligent loading system.

      The system can automatically identify the numbers and loading amounts of railcars when a train moves along the loading line. Once the system detects a railcar, the coal outlet above quickly opens and pours down coal into the car.

      As the train moves forward, multiple processes, such as coal loading, antifreeze spraying, surface leveling, and dust suppression are conducted simultaneously. It takes only about a minute to fill a railcar with coal.

      "Since the introduction of this intelligent loading system, it takes only about two hours to load a 10,000-tonne train, saving two-thirds of the time," said Liu Yansheng, deputy manager of the Hantaichuan North Business Department of Baotou Railway Logistics Center of China Railway Hohhot Bureau Group.

      In addition to loading, the system can also automatically completes tasks such as batching, railcar dynamic tracking and unloading, enabling fully automated and unmanned operation in the entire process of coal transporting. It makes the entire process precise and efficient, avoiding mistakes that may be caused by human error.

      "There is a buffer bin above, where coal is stored in advance. The precise coal batching for the quantity bin is then controlled by adjusting the opening of the A, B, C, D four gates at the bottom of the buffer bin. The loading station is connected to the coal storage shed by a conveyor belt system. The storage, loading, unloading and dispatching processes are all completed in a fully enclosed belt corridor," said Ruan Jinsheng, head of the loading tower of the logistics park.

      Currently, 73 percent of the 37 coal loading bases in the central and western regions of Inner Mongolia have already implemented intelligent loading systems. Since October, the daily average coal transportation amount from railway stations in central and western Inner Mongolia has reached 594,900 tonnes, up 22.51 percent from the same period of last year. On average, 35 trains with a transportation capacity of 10,000 tonnes departed from the region for ports every day.

      Hohhot South Railway Station is another key hub for the west-to-east coal transportation in Inner Mongolia, as well as a necessary transit point for 10,000-tonne trains.

      As a transit point for 10,000-tonne trains, the station covers approximately 450,000 square meters, about the size of 63 football fields. Freight trains make stopover at the station mainly for two tasks.

      The first one is to replace the standard locomotive with two heavy-duty locomotives, as such locomotives can smoothly pull the 10,000-tonne train up the uphill sections on its route heading east to the Caofeidian Port.

      Another reason for the stopover is to attach a safety protection device to the rear of the train, which enables the train driver to monitor whether the train is complete and if the operating conditions are normal.

      Currently, the station handles more than 240 incoming and departing trains, with a daily coal transportation volume of around 300,000 tonnes.

      In order to improve operational efficiency and reduce dwelling time, the station has increased manpower at key stages to speed up the turnover of the train flow. Now, the time required for the entire process of transit operation at the station has been shortened from two hours to 50 minutes.

      Intelligent systems improve coal transportation efficiency in Inner Mongolia

      Intelligent systems improve coal transportation efficiency in Inner Mongolia

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      Traditional folk activities held for Qingming Festival

      2025-04-04 21:48 Last Updated At:22:27

      As the Qingming Festival approaches this Friday, various traditional folk activities have been held across China, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the occasion.

      With a 2,500-year history, Qingming Festival, or the Festival of Pure Brightness, observed in early April, uniquely combines ancestral worship with the celebration of spring. Falling on the 15th day after the spring equinox, this ritual-rich observance reflects China's enduring values of ancestral veneration and inspires deep introspection about what gives life meaning.

      In Sijia Village, Huayin City, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, a unique swing festival is held to mark the occasion. Eighteen different types of traditional swings, such as the spinning wheel swing, the Bagua swing reminiscent of a rotating carousel, and the balance swing designed for two people, have attracted many visitors.

      Historically, Sijia Village served as a military post guarding the strategic Tongguan pass, a former mountain pass and fortress located south of the confluence of the Wei and Yellow Rivers. The swing tradition in the village has its origins in military training exercises like climbing and river crossing. The local swing culture further developed as regional trade flourished, eventually evolving into the "swing festival" that continues today.

      "It's very exciting and tests your skill, endurance, and most importantly, your arm strength. You need to maintain balance," said Qu Xiangyang, a visitor.

      In Rudong County, Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, another traditional Qingming activity takes place - kite flying.

      Flying kites as a way of making wishes is an age-old Qingming custom in this region. As a result, the Qingming Festival in Nantong is also known as the "Kite Festival."

      The local Banyao whistling kite making skills is listed as one of the first national intangible cultural heritage items.

      According to a folk culture expert, people traditionally write the names of diseases or misfortunes on paper, attach it to a kite, and release it into the sky. This practice is believed to drive away illness and disaster, while also serving as a way to make wishes.

      In south China's Guangdong Province, a large tug-of-war competition is underway in Maoming City. Teams from different towns and streets are competing, attracting many locals to cheer on their teams.

      Tug-of-war, which originated during the late Spring and Autumn period (770 BC - 476 BC), became part of Qingming customs during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty once organized large-scale tug-of-war competitions for the festival.

      "Tug-of-war became very popular in the Tang Dynasty, even emerging as the national sport. It originated in the Jingchu region and later spread across the country. In ancient Lingnan (Southern China), tug-of-war games were a common tradition. Through these events, people seek to pray for peace, prosperity, and abundant harvests," said Yao Guojun, vice dean of the College of Arts and Law, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology.

      Traditional folk activities held for Qingming Festival

      Traditional folk activities held for Qingming Festival

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